Slicing machine



n'Aug- 9, 1938-` .1. FOLK 2,126,380

SLICING., MACHINE Filed sept. '17, 1952 7 Sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 9, 1938. J, FOLK l 2,126,380

sLIoINGf.- MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 9, 1938. `.1. FOLK 2,126,380

v sLIcING; MACHINE Filed Sept. 1'7, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 l l Aug. 9,1938. J. FOLK l 2,126,380

` SLIGINGL MACHINE Filed sept. 17, 1932 '/.shets-sneet 4 if .2% l l z5 s 22 I /f/ /Z l QM W 37j -efw 7a/ff Aug. 9, 1938. J. FOLK 2,126,380

Filed Sept. 17, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 7%r 1 x 1 v @a @few/f N Aug. 9, 1938.. J. FOLK SLICING- MACHINE Filed sept. 17, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 J. FOLK SLICING, MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1932` Aug. 9, 1938'. 1

Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNITED STATES SLICING MACHINE Joseph Folk, La Porte, Ind., assignor to- U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind., a

corporation of Indiana Application September 17,

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to slicing machines, and particularly to that type of slicing machine in which the substance is mounted on a carriage which is moved manually relative to a slicing knife so that successive slices may be cut therefrom.

One object of this invention is to provide a slicing machine in which the substance carriage is provided with a clamp for engaging either the upper or rear surface of the substance to be sliced so that the substance may be moved toward the cutting plane of the knife, preferably by spring pressure. The clamp is preferably a self-locking clamp, that is, it locks itself in adjusted position as soon as the same is moved to that position.

Another object of this invention relates to the manner of holding the substance as it is moved against the slicing knife, the substance being held in such a manner that the same is prevented from sliding movement in a direction away from the knife and is also prevented from upward movement away from the supporting surface of the substance table. In carrying out this invention, I provide a pusher plate having suitable prongs thereon which have flat sides facing in a direction of relative movement between the knife and substance support and inclined in such a direction that the reaction between the substance .and the prongs will force the substance. against the substance support.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of suitable guiding ribs on the substance support which are inclined slightly downward toward the cutting plane of the knife to support the substance in a substantially horizontal position when the rear end of the substance (that end which is away from the cutting plane of the knife) is clamped against the substance supporting table. In one preferred embodiment of my invention, I use relatively sharp ribs adjacent to the cutting plane of the knife, the same having one side thereof substantially perpendicular to the plane of the substance support, the perpendicular side of the ribs facing in the general direction toward the cutting edge of the knife.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a slicing machine having a sharpening apparatus positioned partially on the side of the cutting plane of the knife which is adjacent the substance support,` and in so mounting the clamp for the substance on the substance support that the clamp can move substantially into the cutting plane of the knife when in operative position, but which will automatically be moved away from the cutting plane when the clamp is 1932, Serial N0. 633,594

moved to an inoperative position. The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent the clamp, when in an inoperative position or in operative position, from striking the sharpening apparatus, while at the same time permitting the sharpen- 5 ing apparatus to be arranged in such a position that it can be quickly moved against the cutting edge of the knife to sharpen the same.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a clamp which may be readily 10 detached from the substance supporting carriage, this clamp preferably having a rigid portion to be detachably secured to the substance support and a spring-pressed substance engaging portion mounted on the rigid portion.

Other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter .as the description thereof proceeds, the novel features, arrangements and combinations being clearly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a slicing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the slicing machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the same looking at the slicing machine from the side away from the operator, or from the right as viewed in Fig. 1;

Fig. Il is an elevational view of the arrange- 30 ment of the gauge plate, guard plate and slicing knife;

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially along 35 the line 6--6 of Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 7 is a section taken along the line 1 1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section taken along the line 8-` of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing a modified form of rib;

Fig. 10 is a section taken substantially yalong the line lll- ID of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the substance 45 supporting carriage with parts thereof broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 12 is a section taken substantially along the line l2-l2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 13 is a section taken substantially along 50 the line |3-I3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a modified form of pusher plate for the substance carriage;

Fig. l5 is a section taken along the line l5-I5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is an end elevational view of the substance carriage and clamp shown in Fig. 14, looking from the right in that figure;

Fig. 17 is a section taken along the line |1|1 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 18 is a section taken on the line |8-l8 of Fig. 1.

The reference numeral 20 indicates the base of a slicing machine in which there is housed a motor or the like for driving a slicing knife. At one side of the base at 2| (see Figs. 2 and 3) there is provided a knife supporting bracket upon which the knife 22 is rotatably mounted. This mounting for the knife is best illustrated in Fig. 5 in which 23 represents the knife supporting shaft, 24 a pulley driven by the belt 25 from the motor, and in which 26 indicates a clamping nut in the form of a headed screw provided with openings 21 for the reception of a suitable tool for threading the screw into the shaft 23. The knife itself is lcentered upon a hub portion 28 formed on the pulley A24 and is clamped between the nut 26 and the body of the pulley 24. A slice deflector 29 extends from a position close to the cutting edge of the knife to a position remote therefrom and acts as means for directing the slice away from the knife after the slice has been formed. The construction of this deilector 29 is not material to the present invention but is claimed in another application assigned to the same party in interest.

As is clear from an inspection of Figs. 3 and 4, the base is provided with a scrap receiving surface 30, this surface being inclined downwardly and to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, and being formed directly below the knife so that any scraps falling vfrom the knife will fall upon the surface 30 and roll down the surface 30 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, onto the slice receiving surface of the tray 3| where they may be easily removed. Further-more, in the event the scraps do not roll down the surface 30, it is possible to quickly clean this surface 30 by moving a cleaning cloth or the like over the surface from one end thereof to the other, the cleaning operation being aided by the sloping surface of the scrap receiving surface 30.

The knife is provided with a curved guard 32 which encloses the upper and rear portions of the knife. The guard plate 33 has the lugs 34 thereof secured by pins 35 or the like to the guard 32, whereby the guard 32 and guard plate 33 move in unison with each other. The guard 32 is provided with a notch 36, and the guard plate has a downwardly extending nger 31 provided with a notch 38. As is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a pin 39 is secured to the knife supporting bracket 2|. Also, as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, a screw 40 is secured to one side of the base. The screw 40 and the pin 39 are adapted to be received within the notches 38 and 36 respectively when the guard and guard plate are in operative position. The guard 32 is provided at its upper portion with a laterally extending screw 4|, and this screw is received within a notch 42 in the bracket 43 secured by screws 44 to the upper surface of the knife supporting bracket 2|. The screw 4| is provided with a thumb nut 45 which draws the guard 32 firmly against the bracket 43. The guard is provided with bosses 46` which abut against the bracket 43. The` guard and guard plate may be quickly removed by loosening the thumb nut 45 and lifting the guard and guard plate vertically. As will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 5, the nut 26 is provided with an antifriction ball 41 which is pressed into a suitable recess in the nut to hold the ball in place. This ball contacts with the central portion of the guard plate 33 and prevents the central portion of the guard from being flexed away from the substance when the substance is rubbing thereagainst. At the same time, this anti-friction contact between the ball 41 and the guard plate 33 does not interfere with the rotative movement of the knife. The knife guard construction 32 and its attendant parts are disclosed and claimed in applicants copending case Serial No. 719,692, filed April 9, 1934, which matured into Patent No. 2,065,572 on December 29, 1936.

As will be seen from an inspection of Figs. l, 2, 12 and 13, the base is provided with a raised tubular portion 48 which encloses the guide rod 49 and acts as a cover for the same. The ends of the guide rod are mounted within suitable openings in the ends of the tubular portion 48 and secured in place against longitudinal movement by the screws 56 and washers 5|. A bearing member 52 surrounds the guide rod 49 and is guided thereby for longitudinal movement. This bearing member has a lateral extension 53 (see Fig. 13) to which is secured a depending flange 54 on the substance support. The substance support is perhaps best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 11, and comprises a V-shaped trough 55 which has a skirt portion 56 on the slicing knife side thereof. The flange 54 forms an extension of the skirt 56 and is attached by suitable screws 51 and locating pins 58, the latter holding the support in proper position with respect to the lateral extension 53 on the bearing 52.

The substance support is also supported for reciprocating movement at the side thereof remote from the cutting plane of the knife, and in the manner which is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The base is provided with a U-shaped guide 59, and the depending lug 60 on the carriage carries a roller 6| mounted for rotation on the stub shaft 62. The roller 6| engages the upper and lower arms on the U-shaped guide 59 to prevent vertical movement of the substance support.

A handle 63 is provided on the operators side of the substance support and is supported at the opposite ends thereof by the arm 64 and depending lug 65. By applying manual pressure to the handle 63, the substance support may be reciprocated in a direction parallel to the cutting plane of the knife.

The clamp for the substance is indicated generally by the reference numeral 66, and is secured to a bearing member 61 which has a cylindrical opening therein embracing the upright 68 so that the clamp 66 may be moved up and down as desired along the upright 68. Separation of the upright and bearing member 61 is prevented by means of a washer 69 and screw 18. In order to prevent turning movement of the clamp, I provide the bearing member 61 with a laterally extending arm 1| having a U-shaped extension 12 embracing the second upright 13. One of the arms of the U-shaped portion 12 is provided with a spring-pressed friction bearing member within the cylindrical portion 14 (see Fig. 1). Both of the uprights 68 and 13 are carried by a bearing member 15 which extends beneath the substance support 5,5 and is guided by the guide rods 16 and 11 in a direction substantially perpendicular to and from the cutting plane of the knife. The portion of the bearing member 15 which extends beneath the support 55 is provided with two sets of rollers, each set including four rollers spaced circumferentially about the rod 11. These rollers are indicated by the reference numeral 18 and fl l) have their peripheries shaped to conform with the cylindrical surface of the guide rod, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 10. These rollers rotate on the spindles 19 provided on the bearing member 15. The bearing member 15 also has a lateral extension 8|) which is provided with a roller 8| mounted to rotate on the screw 82 and has VtheV peripheral surface thereof shaped to conform to the cylindrical surface of the guide rod 16. The roller 8| prevents movement of the bearing member 15 in one direction, and the pin 83 Vprevents movement of the bearing member in the opposite direction. If desired, another roller similar to 8| may be provided in place of the pin 83.

The means for feeding the bearing 15 and consequently the clamp, in a direction toward the cutting plane of the knife is best' illustrated in Figs. and 11.v In these figures, 84 represents a rod having a threaded portion 85 threaded into the boss 86 and secured in place by nut 81. The opposite end of the rod extends through an opening 88 in the flange 89 which extends downwardly at the side of the substance support remote from the cutting plane and is held in spaced relation centrally within the opening 88 by means of a washer 90 held in place on the end of the rod 84 by a screw 9|. A spring 92 surrounds the rod 84 and abuts at one end against the washer 90, and at the other end the spring abuts against the end of acup-shaped member 93 provided in the bearing 15. The spring normally tends to move the bearing and clamp in a direction toward the Vcutting plane of the knife. The spring can'be removed for repairs or replacement by removing the screw 9| and sliding the spring over the rod 84 through the opening 88.

As will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 3, the opposite ends ofthe guide rod 16 are supported in the laterally extending lugs 94. To one of these lugs 94 there is secured, by means of the screws 96, a guide 95 which extends upwardly and away from the cutting plane of the knife and is provided at its upper end with a notch 91. The bearing 61 on the clamp 66 is provided with an adjustable screw 98 which contacts with the guide 95 so that when the bearing member 61 is moved upwardly along the uprights 68 and 13, the clamp will be automatically moved away from the cutting plane of the knife. The reason for doing this is that the sharpening apparatus 99, which is pivoted at |80 to the bracket 43, extends on both sides of the cutting plane of the knife, as will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2. Therefore, if the forward side of the clamp or pusher plate 66 is too close to the cutting plane of the knife in its upper or inoperativeposition, it will strike the sharpening apparatus and will damage the same, or will damage the prongs (later to be described) provided on the clamp 66.

The details of the sharpening apparatus will not be herein described except to say that the sharpening stones ||l| and |92 engage the knife on opposite sides thereof and have a casing |03 for protecting the same. It will be noted that the sharpening apparatus 99 extends over `the forward edge of the knife and acts as a guard therefor, and is in a position `to be readily moved into engagement with the knife when desired.

When the clamp is in its uppermost position, the screw 98 is ararnged within the notch 91 to prevent downward movement of the clamp due to vibratory movement of the slicing machine and against accidental movement downwardly in case the clamp is struck.

The slice receiving tray is supported on a bracket |94 which in turn is supported in any suitable manner on the side of the base 20.

The substance support 55 has the upper surface thereof provided with ribs extending in a direction toward the cutting plane of the knife. These ribs, as clearly illustrated in the plan view in Fig. 2, and in cross-sectional views in Figs. 7 and 8, are relatively broad remote from the cutting plane of the knife and then become sharper adjacent the cutting plane of the knife, the broad portions being indicated by the reference character |95, and the narrower portions by the reference character |96. It will also be noted, from an inspection of Fig. '1, that the ribs have the upper surfaces thereof sloping downwardly toward the cutting plane of the knife. This is to facilitate the feeding of the substance toward the cutting plane, for with the spring pressure on the clamp or pusher plate 66, the feeding of the substance is resisted if the ribs are at the same height throughout their entire length or are inclined upwardly toward the cutting plane. In Fig. '7 the reference numeral |01 represents a line which is parallel to the guide rods 16 and 11, and the amount of inclination from one end of the rib to the other is indicated by the reference character A. Preferably, one side of that portion of the rib which lies adjacent to the cutting plane of the knife is perpendicular to the supporting surface of the substance support, as indicated at |98. Thus when the ribs bite into the under side of the substance being cut,`there is a series of vertical abutment faces |98 which prevent the substance from moving away from the knife or upwardly with respect to the substance support. It will be noted that the ribs on the rear abutment wall |89 of the substance support are substantially rounded in cross-section throughout their entire length. These ribs are indicated by the reference numeral lli). The rounded portion of the ribs, both on the abutment Wall |99 and on the main substance supporting surface of the substance support, provide broad surfaces for supporting the substance without digging into the substance, and at the same time provide recesses therebetween which prevent the formation of any appreciable amount of suction between the substance support and the substance.

The substance clamp is provided with a plate il on the slicing knife side thereof, and this plate is substantially parallel with the cutting plane of the knife. The face of the plate ill is provided with a series of ilat prongs H2 which are pointed in one direction, and the flat faces of these prongs are inclined to the vertical in a direction upwardly and away from the operators position. It will also be noted that the flat faces of these prongs are not perpendicular to the substance supporting surface of theV substance support, but are inclied thereto and in a direction upwardly and away from the operator. When the substance is being fed along the substance support by the pusher plate l l, the prongs ||2 imbed themselves in the rear end of the substance, and the action of the cutting force of the knife on the substance, which is substantially in a horizontal direction to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, causes the substance to be forced down against the substance support and into engagement with the ribs, so that the sharp portions of the ribs adjacent the cutting plane of the knife will dig into the substance and prevent sliding movement thereof relative to the substance support in a direction toward the operators position. This action is more pronounced as the substance becomes very short in the direction of its feed toward the cutting plane of the knife, that is, when the plate III comes close to the cutting plane of the knife and there is only a small portion of the substance lbetween the plate I II and the knife, the action of the prongs H2 is more pronounced. Also, during the slicing of the substance, the prongs tend to work holes in the end of the substance and can have relative sliding movement with respect to the end of the substance, but the sliding movement of the substance is always in a downward direction toward the substance support due to the inclination of the prongs. It Will be noted that the sum total of the substance engaging surfaces of the prongs is quite large, and therefore there is a very appreciable effect upon the substance by these prongs in the manner aforesaid. The plate III is also provided with downwardly extending blunt prongs H3, so that if desired, the upper side of the substance may be engaged by the prongs and the substance fed along the substance support by the spring-pressure 'the same as when the plate III is moved against the rear end of the substance. These prongs H3 are preferably used When there is a considerable portion of the substance to be sliced, and the pusher plate III is used when the substance becomes shorter. There is another series of blunt prongs H4 formed on a plate H5 secured to the under side of the clamp 6G. These prongs extend at right angles to the main section of the plate and are parallel to the prongs H3. This double row cf prongs H3, II 4 tends more securely to grip the substance and provides contact with the substance at spaced distances along its length. The clamp is operated by the handle Hi which extends between the clamp and the arm 'II.

The thickness of the slice is regulated by means of a gauge plate HI, which gauge plate is carried by rod I I8 extending through the base and provided with an adjusting nut H9 at the opposite end thereof, whereby the position of the gauge plate may be adjusted in a plane parallel to the cutting plane of the knife by turning the nut H9 which is threaded on the rod H8 and prevented from longitudinal movement in any suitable manner. An additional guiding rod (not shown) is provided for the purpose of preventing turning movement of the gauge plate about the axis of the rod H8.

The operation of the slicing machine is as follows: The substance to be sliced, if it is fairly long, is placed upon the substance carriage 55, and the operator moves the prongs H3 and H4 into engagement with the upper side of the substance by grasping the handle IIB and forcing the clamp downwardly along the uprights 68 and 13. While doing this, the clamp is retracted against the action of the spring 92, and after the substance has been engaged by the clamp, the spring pressure will urge the clamp and substance toward the cutting plane of the knife. When the carriage is in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 1, the substance will be forced against the gauge plate I I1, and when the operator pushes the carriage forward by manual pressure applied to the handle 63, the substance will engage the slicing knife and a slice will be out from the substance and deflected by the defiector 29. The cutting edge of the knife is best shown in Fig. 5 in cross-section, and this crossseetion is such that on the substance side of the knife, the face thereof tapers slightly away from a plane parallel to the movement of the substance support and then tapers at an increased rate away from the same plane to provide room for the guard plate 33 so that the substance engaging portion of the guard plate is substantially in the same plane as the peripheral edge of the knife. The forward edge of the guard plate is rounded, as at I20, so that the side of the substance after it passes the cutting edge of the knife does not have a sharp abutment against which it must move before it passes into engagement with the broad surface of the guard plate. This prevents the forward edge of the guard plate from tearing portions of the substance therefrom and forming scraps, as happens with the usual type of guard plate in which the forward edge thereof is not rounded. In actual tests on this machine in cutting a soft substance which readily forms scraps in the lusual slicing machine, I find that almost a negligible quantity of scraps is formed and that bleeding of the substance is minimized. One reason for this is the narrow face I2I of the knife directly behind the cutting edge thereof. This face is approximately not over 1/2 inch in width. Another reason for this is that the guard plate is brought close to the peripheral edge of the knife and prevents the substance from rubbing on the face I2I thereof. A still further reason for this highly desirable result is the sloping of the face I2I away from the edge in a direction slightly away from a plane parallel to the direction of movement of the substance carriage. Ordinarily, with a spring feed, the substance is caused to rub against the edge of the knife, and this results in larding of the knife. However, this is prevented in my machine due to the very small amount of space between the peripheral edge of the knife and the guard plate which form points of contact for the substance Whieh substantially prevent the intermediate portion of the substance from engaging the knife and thereby causing larding thereof. The particular knife construction herein shown is disclosed and claimed in applicants divisional application Serial No. 637, filed January 7, 1935, which issued into Patent No. 2,055,818 on September 29, 1936.

After the substance has been sliced to such an extent that only a small part of the substance remains, the clamp is moved away from the cutting plane of the knife to such a position that the plate HI can be brought down behind the rear end of the substance and then into engagement with the rear end to cause a feeding of the substance by the spring pressure of spring 92. The distance the substance may be moved toward the cutting plane of the knife is regulated by the adjusting screw 98, and the adjustment is such that the forward ends of the prongs H2 are just outside of the cutting plane of the knife so as to clear the knife when the clamp is at its extreme forward position towards the cutting plane of the knife. This position, however, brings portions of the clamp beneath the grinding unit, and it is for this reason that the guide is provided so that the clamp will be drawn away from the cutting plane of the knife if moved to its uppermost position.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a modified form of rib in which the portion of the rib adjacent the cutting plane of the knife has a cross-section such that two sides thereof slope equally with respect to a vertical line erected to the substance surface.

In Figs. 14, 15, 16, and 17, I have shown a modified form of my invention in which the substance support |22 is provided with similarly shaped ribs to those shown in the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, etc., but in this form of the invention, the pusher plate |23, which corresponds to the plate previously described, is carried by a tubular member |24 slidable within the handle |25 which in turn is attached to the substance support by means of the arms |26 and |27. The arm |2'| is provided with an opening |28 adapted to receive the pin |29 secured to the substance support. The arm |25 is slotted at |30, and a lug |3| on the substance support is provided with a stud |32 on which there is threaded a wing nut |33. This wing nut |33 has a conical seat |34 0n the bottom thereof adapted to be arranged within a conical seat |35 formed in the edge of the opening forming the slot |30. With this arrangement it is only necessary to loosen the wing nut |33 a small amount and then swing the clamp and entire feeding mechanism about the pin |29 as a pivot until the arm |26 is free of the stud |32, and then lift the entire clamping mechanism vertically.

'Ihe plate |23 is provided with prongs |33` which are formed the same as the prongs ||2 in the first form of the invention described. The plate is also provided with a guide rod |31 extending through an opening in the downwardly extending lug |38 formed on the handle |25. The coil spring |39 is arranged within the tubular member |24 and handle |25 and abuts at one end against the plate |23 and at the other end against a plug |42 screw threaded into the handle |25. This plug can be removed and the spring removed for replacement or repair. Also, the spring tension can be regulated somewhat by this plug. The amount of movement which may be given the plate |23 by the spring |39 is limited by the washer |4| secured tothe end of the guide rod |31 by the screw |42. A handle |43 secured to the rear side of the plate |23 is provided for the purpose of drawing the plate backwardly against the action of the spring. The plate `|23 in this form of the invention is used only when cutting short ends of substance, and for the purpose of preventing the operator from positioning his hand too close to the substance, as well as to impart a uniform pressure to the substance while it is being sliced. When a long piece of substance is to be sliced, the wing nut is loosened and the feeding means is removed. The substance then can be grasped by the operator and advanced toward the cutting plane of the knife and against the substance support.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 14 to 17 inclusive, there is provided a handle |44 for actuating the substance support, but it is not necessary that this be used when the feeding mechanism is in position, for the handle |25 may be grasped and used as a means for reciprocating the substance table.

Obviously, those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make various changes in the construction and the arrangement of the parts shown in the drawings without departing from the spirit of this invention, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a substance support movable relative to said knife in a path substantially par4A allel to the cutting plane of said knife, a plurality of ribs on said substance support, means for feeding a substance along said support toward the cutting plane of said knife, said ribs having sharp substance engaging portions adjacent the cutting plane of said knife, of a crosssection such that one side of the rib is substantially perpendicular to the substance support and the opposite side thereof is at a substantial angle to the substance support, the perpendicular side of said rib facing in a direction toward the cutting edge of said knife, and said ribs having a cross-section remote from the cutting plane of said knife which is substantially arcuate in crosssection to provide a broad substance engaging portion which will not cut into the substance.

2. A slicing machine comprising a substance support and a slicing knife movable relative to each other, a pusher plate for feeding the substance along said substance support toward the cutting plane of said knife, and a plurality of prongs having flat sides thereon which are normal to the plate and arranged at an inclination to the supporting surface of said substance support, the inclination being upwardly and toward the cutting edge of the knife, whereby the action of the knife upon the substance during the slicing operation forces the substance against said at sides and downwardly against the substance support to more firmly hold the substance on said substance support during the slicing opera ion.

3. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a substance support, a pusher n the plate and extending toward said cutting plane and having flat surfaces thereon facing in a direction toward the cutting edge of said knife when the knife and support are in inoperative positions relative to each other, the inclination of said fiat surfaces being in a direction upwardly away from the surface of said support and toward the cutting edge of said knife, whereby the action of said knife on the substance as the slice is being cut forces the substance against the flat surfaces, and the flat surfaces in turn react on the substance to force the same into rm engagement with the substance support.

4. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a substance support movable relative to said knife in a direction substantially parallel to the cutting plane thereof, a clamp mounted on said substance support for feeding the substance toward the cutting plane of said knife, said clamp being movable in a direction toward the cutting plane of said knife and limited in its movement toward said cutting plane to such an extent that the side of the clamp nearest the cutting plane can move to a point immediately adjacent the cutting plane of said knife, but not into the cutting plane, so as to prevent engagement of the slicing knife with the clamp, said clamp being also movable upwardly away from the cutting plane of said knife to an inoperative position, and means including a verticallyr extending guide member mounted on the substance support and means on said clamp cooperating with said guide to displace the clamp laterally from the plane of the knife when the clamp is raised to inoperative position, whereby a liberal clearance is provided between the clamp and the cutting plane of said knife clamp is in inoperative position.

5. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, a substance support movable relative to said knife, and an obstruction projecting beyond the cutting plane of said knife, a clamp on said support movable toward the cutting plane of said knife and having the end of its path of movement toward the cutting plane while in operative position closely adjacent to, but not entering the cutting plane of said knife, whereby substantially all of the substance may be sliced, said clamp being also movable away from said substance support to an inoperative position, a guide for moving the clamp simultaneously away from the cutting plane as the clamp moves to inoperative position to clear the said obstruction in all positions of adjustment of said substance support, said guide including a vertically extending member mounted on the substance support, and means cooperating with said guide to displace the clamp laterally from the plane of the knife when the clamp is raised to inoperative position.

6. In a slicing machine, the combination with a substance support, of a slicing knife movable relative to said support, a gauge plate for gauging the thickness of the slices to be cut, a feeding mechanism for feeding the substance toward the cutting plane of said knife, a member'rigidly and releasably mounted on said support, having an operating handle thereon extending substantially at right angles to the cutting plane for use in moving said feeding mechanism fromsaid support and for operating said support when it is desired to move said knife and support relative to each other, a pusher plate, means for mounting the pusher plate on the handle for slidable movement thereon toward the gauge plate, and means for yieldingly urging the pusher plate with respect to the handle in a direction toward the cutting plane of said knife.

'7. In a slicing machine, the combination with a substance support, of a slicing knife movable relative to said support, a gauge plate for gauging the thickness of the slices to be out, a feeding mechanism for feeding the substance toward the cutting plane of said knife, a member rigidly and releasably mounted on said support, having an operating handle thereon for use in moving said feeding mechanism from said support and for operating said support when it is desired to move said knife and support relative to each other, and a pusher plate slidably mounted with respect to said handle and yieldingly urged in a direction toward the cutting plane of said knife, said yielding means comprising a spring arranged within said handle and abutting against a rigid portion of said handle and said plate, said plate having a tubular extension thereon slidably arranged within said handle for guiding said plate.

8. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slicing knife and a substance support movable relative to each other, of a feeding mechanism when said releasably mounted on said support, Vhavingv a rigid portion thereof releasably secured to said support, said releasable securing means comprising a pair of arms on said member, a projection on one of said arms receivable within a recess formed in said support, a clamping screw mounted on said support adapted to be received within a notched portion on the other of said arms and clamped against said arms to hold the same in juxta-position with respect to said support, and a yielding presser plate for feeding the substance toward'the cutting plane of said knife, mounted on said member which is rigidly and releasably secured to said substance support.

9. In a slicing machine, the combination with a substance support, of a slicing knife, means for moving said knife and support relative to each other, feeding mechanism:` for feeding the substance toward the cutting plane of said knife, comprising a member releasably secured to said support, a spring-pressed plate mounted on said member for engaging the substance and feeding the same toward the cutting plane of said knife, and a plurality of prongs on said plate extending toward the cutting plane of said knife and having substantially fiat faces thereon facing in a direction toward the cutting edge of said'knife when the support and knife are in their inoperative positions relative to each other.

10. In a slicing machine, the combination with a substance support, of a slicing knife, means for moving said knife and support relative to each other, feeding mechanism for feeding the substance toward the cutting plane of said knife, comprising a member releasably secured to said support, a spring-pressed plate mounted on'said member for engaging the substance and feeding the same toward the cutting plane of said knife, and a plurality of prongs on said plate extending toward the cutting plane of said knife and having substantially flat faces thereon facing in a direction toward the cutting edge of said knife when the support and knife are in their inoperative positions relative to each other, and said substantially fiat faces sloping in a direction upwardly away from the supporting surface of said support and toward the cutting edge of said knife.

11. A slicing machine comprising a food pusher plate, a plurality of spaced prongs having fiat faces on said pusher plate extending substantially at right angles from the plate, said prongs being longerv vertically than the horizontalV width thereof, and inclining upwardly and away from the operators end of said slicing machine.

12. A slicing machine comprising a rotaryA knife, a reciprocal carriage, a food pusher adapted to push food along the carriage toward the cutting plane of the knife, a handle for operating the carriage, and a coiled spring carried in said handle and independent of movement of said handle for urging the pusher toward the cutting plane of the knife.

13. In a slicing machine, a slicing knife, a carriage reciprocable across the face of the knife having a substance support, a gauge plate having the substance engaging surface thereof arranged substantially parallel to the cutting plane of the knife, spaced ribs formed on the substance support extending toward the knife cutting plane, the tops of said ribs adjacent the cutting plane being relatively sharp and the rib tops remote from the cutting plane being relatively rounded, a feeding member for feeding substance along the substance support of the carriage toward the cutting plane, the tops of said ribs adjacent the cutting plane being lower than the rib tops remote from the cutting plane.

14. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, a substance support mlovabler'elative to said knife, and an obstruction projecting beyond the cutting plane of said knife, a clamp on said support movable toward the cutting plane of said knife and having the end of its path of movement toward the cutting plane while in operative position closely adjacent to, but not entering the cutting plane of said knife, whereby substantially all of the substance may be sliced, said clamp being also movable away from said substance support to an inoperative position, a cam member fixed to said carriage adjacent the cutting plane and a member on said clamp to Contact said cam when the clamp is moved to a position adjacent the cutting plane whereby should the clamping element be raised from the substance support it wil be moved away from the cutting plane to clear said obstruction.

15. A slicing machine comprising a substance support and a slicing knife movable relative to each other, a pusher plate for feeding the substance along said substance support toward the cutting plane of said knife, and a plurality of projections having flat sides thereon which are normal' to the plate and arranged at an inclination to a supporting surface of said substance support the inclination of the flat sides guiding the end of the substance toward the support when the action of the knife upon the substance during the slicing operation forces the substance against said lat sides of the projections and downwardly against the substance support to more firmly hold the substance on said substance support during the slicing operation.

JOSEPH FOLK. 

